摘要
1.引言科学和技术是社会变革的历史驱动力,这些变革大多是有益的,但有时会产生意想不到的(通常是环境方面的)后果,其中一些后果我们目前仍在努力应对。18世纪和19世纪的工业革命,带来的以化石燃料为动力的采矿和制造业机械化发展,以及航运和陆路运输的快速发展,导致城市化和人口不断增长。即使在18世纪,人口增长率也显然不能保持稳定。随着城市人口的增多和耕地的减少,除非农业生产率能够跟上发展的步伐。
1. Introduction
Science and technology are historical drivers of societal change-mostly for good, but sometimes with unintended （often environmental） consequences, many of which we are still struggling to deal with today. The Industrial Revolution of the 18th and 19th centuries, with its fossil-fuel-powered mechanization of mining and manufacturing and its rapid expansion in shipping and land transport, led to increasing urbanization and population growth. Even in the 18th century, it was apparent that the rate of population growth could not be sustained. With more people living in cities and fewer farming the land, how would it be possible to feed and clothe the growing population, unless agricultural productivity could keep pace？
